What You Can Do to Improve Your Body Image and Self Esteem

For the longest time, I thought that the only way I would ever be fully satisfied with myself meant being practically flawless in every aspect of my life. I used the outside factors as the main point of reference for defining my self-worth – everything from having the right job, being successful at it, all the way to fulfilling everyone’s expectations. And as you can imagine, this lead to a whole series of issues, not the least one of which was my constant state of negativity which stifled my growth.

It took me quite a while before I realised that I will remain unhappy for as long as I use those outside factors as tools to define myself. It was time to look deep into my own self and understand what makes me happy, even if it meant that not everyone would approve.

Letting go of comparisons

We live in a world where most societies accept comparing yourself to others as a normal state of mind. We are invited to aim for the same six-pack as seen on a magazine cover, to chase after the same balance as a famous entrepreneur. Few ideas revolve around looking inwards and defining our own capabilities. It is noble to feel inspired to become better when we see that others doing it, and to overcome our fears and let go of labels, but it’s an entirely different mindset when we undermine our self-worth over what others have achieved. 

I’ve caught myself being envious of other people’s success, relationships, and peace of mind. I’ve realized that it’s a toxic mindset that doesn’t lead to improvement, but pushes me further into dissatisfaction. So, I started changing my mind one thought at a time. Perhaps you’ll find it helpful, too – try using yourself as the only reference, and aim to surpass your own limitations. Not in order to be better than others and motivated by envy or jealousy, but driven by a desire to become better for the world.  

Making things personal

Have you ever caught yourself thinking “Wow, that girl must be starving for attention” simply because she has something extraordinary about herself, whether it’s a type of makeup, or an unconventional hairstyle? Once again, this was perhaps my own envy surfacing in a different way, as I wished to have the same level of freedom to express myself without worrying about what others would think, say, or do.

I’ve wanted a tattoo my entire life, and as many people who have body art already know, I discovered that these incredible images are much more than meets the eye – they are an epitome of self-love, a carved-in affirmation of who you are, and a beautiful way to immortalize an emotion, a memory, or a part of your character. So, I asked around looking for an artist who designs Japanese tattoos, and I decided I’d get one done after all these years – and I have to say, it is an incredible way of self-confirmation, and a beautiful way to love yourself.

Self-care practices

In addition to abandoning the conventional definition for what actually fulfills me and makes me feel incredible in my own skin, I learned that permanent changes only come with permanent choices – and by that, I mean that I cannot expect my mindset to alter unless I’m prepared to make different commitments to myself.

This is where the beauty of the today’s world comes to shine. With so many wonderful activities to choose from, you can certainly find something that will make you happy and keep your body and mind healthy. For me, its yoga paired with writing, but for you it may be dancing paired with painting, or martial arts mixed with singing. It’s essential that we take care of ourselves with the right choices of physical activity, nutrition, and cognitive stimulation, because these aspects of our lives are the building blocks of long-term fulfillment. They let us accept responsibility for creating our happiness, so we stop believing that it lies in outside factors.

Embracing imperfection

However, no matter how hard you try to do everything right, even without comparing, jealousy, or self-restrictions, there will still be times you won’t like your own reflection, or you won’t be too happy with your state of mind. It doesn’t mean that you’re slipping back into your old thinking patterns, but simply that you’re human and that you just might be having a bad day, or two, or ten.

Embrace it! Perhaps out of this temporary dissatisfaction some greater good may arise, only if you see it as an opportunity rather than a failure. Its one thing to always strive to be better, and completely another to punish yourself for not attaining perfection. Love yourself even when you don’t feel good about your body, or when you’re cranky – you’ve earned it.